Meet Obama’s new travel partner

July 11, 2008

There have been rumors all week that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) might hit the campaign trail with Barack Obama. I expected that might include a rally in Nebraska or something.

That’s not quite what these two had in mind.

The buzz this week that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is planning to join Sen. Barack Obama on an up-coming visit to Iraq is correct, two sources with knowledge of the trip confirmed Friday. […]

While it is standard practice for such trips — known as CODELS, or congressional delegations — to be bipartisan, in this highly charged election year it is likely to raise eyebrows that the retiring Nebraskan senator — a prominent Iraq War critic — is the Republican expected to join the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee on what is sure to be a closely watched visit to the region.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Sen. Hagel has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race, and he has offered kind words for both Obama and Republican rival Sen. John McCain, although the two Republicans differ greatly on the war. […]

In a Tuesday interview with MSNBC, senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod also offered kind words for the Nebraska senator. “Sen. Hagel, I think, has been very courageous in speaking out on this issue of Iraq and the misguided policies that we’ve had from the beginning.”

Quite right. No Republican in America has been as solid or as reliable in his criticism of the Bush/McCain Iraq policy as Chuck Hagel. Plus, as Andrew Sullivan added, “How f*ck-you to McCain-Lieberman is that?”

Of course, this will probably renew speculation about Hagel joining the Democratic ticket. He said a few weeks ago that he’d “consider” such an offer, but I really don’t think it’s going to happen.

TNR’s Michael Crowley noted the other day that Hagel’s NARAL rating is exactly zero, which, to Crowley’s mind, is “a dealbreaker” for the Democratic ticket. I definitely agree.

But a knowledgeable source weighed in soon after:

Hagel doesn’t give a sh*t about abortion politics. He was pro-choice before he ran [for office]. More interesting is his vote today against the Medicare bill. That tells me he is not thinking about joining the Obama ticket and has not been contacted.

True, true. At this point, if Hagel were in the running for the VP slot, he’d know, because Obama’s search committee would have asked for background materials. And if Hagel had been asked, he’d probably begin taking at least incremental steps towards Obama’s position, especially on issues like Medicare.

He isn’t, which suggests Hagel hasn’t been asked for background info, which suggests he’s not on the short-list.

That said, I respect Hagel’s principled, reality-based opposition to the Bush/McCain foreign policy, and wouldn’t mind seeing him in an Obama administration. I especially like the sound of “VA Secretary Hagel.”

For that matter, Sam Stein recently noted that Hagel is “quickly becoming Barack Obama’s answer to Joe Lieberman.”

If Hagel wants to fill that role, I’d be thrilled. In fact, Hagel certainly seems estranged from his party, and he has publicly suggested that he can no longer relate to today’s GOP.

With that in mind, if Hagel wouldn’t mind endorsing Obama one of these days, I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Andrew Sullivan added, “How f*ck-you to McCain-Lieberman is that?”

Sorry small correction. Sullivan wrote, “How fuck-you to McCain-Lieberman is that?” 🙂

Obama with a Republican running mate no longer would surprise me.

Hopefully Hagel can describe which is the dog and which is the pony parts of the Iraq dog and pony show.

  • Obama would never choose a R running mate. Even if it is one as open-minded(?) as Chuck.

    Methinks it will be Edwards, but I won’t lay money on it. Maybe it will be Jesse Ventura – How “different kind of politics” would that be?

  • How can Hagel be the answer to Lieberman if he doesn’t vote regularly with the Democrats? You just chronicled a series of issues where he has voted with Republicans. We are not a single-issue party, the last I heard.

    When progressives enthuse about Hagel or a Hagel-Obama ticket, I wonder if the whole party has lost its mind.

    Are there no Democrats willing to run with Obama? Why not pick one of them?

  • shouldn’t surprise anyone – hagel was one of the cheerleaders that enabled the criminality and treason of the bush administration.

    He can pretend otherwise, but he was before it before he was against it and he has done nothing to accept responsibility for his role nor has he taken any meaningful action.

    This is just another example of obama selling out the people that made his nomination possible. He is a corporate shill and a political panderer, the likes of which we have not seen in many years.

  • Mary – the self-proclaimed “liberal” blogosphere (the “advertise liberally” crowd) is not about progressive or liberal politics. Just look at the way the slimed Hillary and notice how they VIRTUALLY NEVER address workers rights or socio-economic equity issues.

    A few people, by using and endless set of links, have created a economic enterprise that allows them to raise large amounts of money by exploiting the proud traditions of progressive/liberal politics.

    There is nothing “liberal” or “progressive” about FDL, atrios, kos, carpetbagger, or any of the rest of them.

    But they proclaim to be so in order to generate cash – as you have often noted, they actually stand for little or nothing. But they are a cash-cow.

  • I would love to see Hagel in an Obama administration… but I would love a Secretary Max Cleland or Secretary Tammy Duckworth too!

  • Obama can’t afford to come back from Iraq and say, ‘Gee, the surge is working after all. Let’s give it a while longer,’ and neither can Hagel after bucking his own party on the issue. So, Hagel gives Obama some reliable cover — maybe more than going alone or with a Dem.

  • But they proclaim to be so in order to generate cash – as you have often noted, they actually stand for little or nothing. But they are a cash-cow. -Jamie

    I always knew Benen was in this for the cash! Got you now Steve! 🙂

    Jamie, seriously. Get real or get lost.

  • I wondered which Republican the neocons were willing to sacrifice along with Obama to demonstrate the “terrorist” attack was bipartisan.

    What the hell does Obama plan to learn from going to the dog and pony show. He can only go where they take him and only see what they show him. There is no peril greater than going into a snakes den while being protected by snakes.

    Not even Bush would go announced

    Jamie said…”…He is a corporate shill and a political panderer, the likes of which we have not seen in many years….” Nonsense…we see it 100s worse looking at McCain and the Bush enterprise on a daily basis. Your “opinion” is just that and these sites do address socio-economic equity issues and worker’s rights fairly often. Your bitterness while inserting your opinion as fact shines through. Repressed anger resentment and rage just look to find a target. Hagel has at least made an attempt to stand against Bush and the neocons on this issue of Iraq.

    GlennGreewald@salon.com is a progressive site I recommend.

  • 4.On July 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm, Mary said:
    When progressives enthuse about Hagel or a Hagel-Obama ticket, I wonder if the whole party has lost its mind.

    Progressives are enthusiastic about an Obama-Hagel ticket? (you do realize the presidential candidate is always listed first, right?) I haven’t read even one example of this. Hagel would be ok in the cabinet, but only in a role where his conservative stands on social issues wouldn’t be a hindrance to progressive policies. VA would be good, there shouldn’t be anything partisan about treating veterans well.

  • Mary – they block/ban/delete posts to sites that are about real progressive issues. They can’t stand the competition. Just getting this posted was a lot of work.

    They want docile sheeple that will send money to them or their corporate candidates.

  • Sorry about the order. They are talking above about this trip being to vet Hagel. That means they are suggesting he is being considered for VP. I’ve been seeing these kinds of items on TPM and HuffPo for a couple of weeks now.

  • “You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over…”

  • They are talking above about this trip being to vet Hagel. That means they are suggesting he is being considered for VP. — Mary, @14

    Which “they” would that be, Mary? Because I so no such suggestions either from Benen or from the commenters here.

  • Libra, the whole post is about speculation about Hagel joining the ticket. I didn’t say Steve was advocating it. I said they are talking about it and I referred to progressive sites (TPM, HuffPo). Here are some quotes from Steve’s post where people talk about Hagel on the ticket:

    “Of course, this will probably renew speculation about Hagel joining the Democratic ticket. He said a few weeks ago that he’d “consider” such an offer, but I really don’t think it’s going to happen.”

    A knowledgeable source weighed in…”Hagel doesn’t give a sh*t about abortion politics. He was pro-choice before he ran [for office]. More interesting is his vote today against the Medicare bill. That tells me he is not thinking about joining the Obama ticket and has not been contacted.” I don’t know who this source is because Steve doesn’t say, but the topic is clearly whether Hagel will join the ticket.

    Steve continues: “True, true. At this point, if Hagel were in the running for the VP slot, he’d know, because Obama’s search committee would have asked for background materials. And if Hagel had been asked, he’d probably begin taking at least incremental steps towards Obama’s position, especially on issues like Medicare. He isn’t, which suggests Hagel hasn’t been asked for background info, which suggests he’s not on the short-list.” Again, this is all clearly talking about whether Hagel is in the running for the VP slot.

    As I said in my original post (#4), not the response to Shalimar (#14), I have seen suggestions too various places suggesting that Hagel join Obama’s ticket, beyond the ones Steve comments upon. I agree with Steve that it isn’t a good idea, and I took that a step further by asking how progressives could be considering it. I disagree that there has never been enthusiasm for Hagel as VP in the comments (but clearly not above). I’m not going to waste my time looking for it, since this is both a stupid conversation and a waste of time.

    I repeat, why should anyone who calls himself a Democrat be considering Hagel for an Obama-Hagel ticket at all? If you believe no one is doing that, then what the hell is Steve talking about in his post?

  • I’m not going to waste my time looking for it, since this is both a stupid conversation and a waste of time.

    I put this through my Super Secret Mary Decoder Ring and got: “You busted me lying again.”

  • Having Hagel on the ticket would slice a minimum of 5 points off McCain’s support, which would effectively put Obama in the White House. That alone makes it worth considering.

    Remember also that the VP is as consequential or inconsequential as the President chooses to make it. Bush chose it to mean a lot, as he needed a grown up to tell him what to do and say. With a Democratic president and a Democratic congress, you can pursue a Democratic agenda.

  • Just another Crazy Uncle? It has been widly reported that Michelle Obama practically grew up in Jesse Jacksons house,and is best friends with one of Jesse Jacksons daughters! Jesse Jr is one of Obamas campaign directors, and one of Jesse Jackson kids is one of Barack Obamas daughters god parents.Do not be so Niave people,This is the Politics of Chicago and the Politice of Obama!We are all aware that the Obama Campaign uses the race card anytime it is convenient for the Obama Campaign, as it usually always benefit’s none other then the Obama campaign.This is just another example of another long time Obama cohort { Reverend Wright, Father Pfleger, and now Jesse Jackson } making racial statements to deflect attention away from a very problematic time in the Obama campaign. By Jesse Jackson taking this hit in the media,he is getting all the media’s attention off of all the talk of Obama breaking his major campaign promises, in particular The FISA Bill, which Obama had promised his supporters that he would against and decided to vote for the FISA BILL.Yes he has broken another major campaign promise, and has had a very tough week or two, as he has been taking a lot of heat from the media, and even his own supporters. To “deflect” the attention away from Obamas political inexperience, and his FISA Vote yesterday, It is just a little to convenient for The Obama Campaign, headed by Jesse Jackson JR. by the way, that comments made by Jesse Jackson Sr. made Sunday suddenly broke yesterday.Just after Obamas key vote supporting President Bush’s FISA Bill that had been threatening to break even Obamas staunchest of supporters. As of yesterday Obama was being criticized daily by media outlets and supporters alike, about the many flip flops made by the Candidate of Hope and Change, and now even Jesse Jr. came to Obamas defense “Ripping” Jesse Sr’s words, thus successfully deflecting the media attention away from Obamas Hard move to the right! Well played Camp Obama. Now all the pundit’s are talking about is Jesse Jackson not Barack Obama.This is not the Politics of Change, nor is it mere Politics as usual, This is the Politics of Obama. If anyone would like to see how deeply Jesse Jackson is planted in the Obama campaign, go to C-Span and watch the JUNE 29 TH Rainbow Coalition tapes, where you can watch Jesse Jackson and other African American leaders planning the first 30 day’s of The Obama presidency.To bad that it has not been reported how Jesse Jackson Jr. has been treating any elected delegates that did not support Obama thru out this election season.
    puma/nobama

  • 4. On July 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm, Mary said:
    How can Hagel be the answer to Lieberman if he doesn’t vote regularly with the Democrats? You just chronicled a series of issues where he has voted with Republicans. We are not a single-issue party, the last I heard.
    ___________________________

    Well, Hagel traditionally endorses a Republican agenda…except for the war…

    Lieberman traditionally caucuses with the Dems…except for the war…

    This is probably why some people are implying that Hagel is “the answer to Lieberman.”

    You are dumb.

    (It’s been brought to my attention that Mary possibly is filtering my comments, being the coward that she is. If anyone wants to copy and paste my comments to their own post, feel free. I’d be honored)

  • Having Hagel on the ticket would slice a minimum of 5 points off McCain’s support, which would effectively put Obama in the White House. That alone makes it worth considering.

    Having Hagel on the ticket might also slice a minimum of 5 points off Obama’s support, so be careful assuming that everyone supporting Obama is going to keep supporting him no matter how far rightward he moves. I’m having enough trouble keeping my friends convinced that Obama is worth voting for in November – if he puts Hagel on the ticket with him it’ll be over.

    Having Hagel on the ticket would slice a minimum of 5 points off McCain’s support, which would effectively put Obama in the White House. That alone makes it worth considering.

    Well, unless the President dies. You know, the whole reason that the VP slot exists in the first place. I don’t really want Hagel one bullet away from the White House personally. Especially given the racists and militia weirdos who might just decide it’s worth it to keep a black man out of the presidency.

    Hagel would be a terrible choice on multiple levels. There are much better choices for VP than Hagel – like, perhaps, a Democrat for a start. Gore ran into problems with lost support after he picked Lieberman for his running mate – and at least Lieberman was a Dem. If Obama picks someone more conservative than Lieberman for his running mate it will be the kiss of death for his candidacy.

  • 13. On July 11th, 2008 at 6:18 pm, JAMIE said:
    Mary – they block/ban/delete posts to sites that are about real progressive issues. They can’t stand the competition. Just getting this posted was a lot of work.

    Jamie had to look up how to spell “orange.”
    Twice.

  • Politics aside, just in terms of intellect and character, Chuck Hagel is to Joe Lieberman as….

    Eisenhower is to Dan Quayle?

    Peyton Manning is to Rex Grossman (much as it pains me to type that)?

    a Mercedes is to a Maverick?

    (and I agree, he would be a horrible Veep, for lots of reasons, but I could see him at SecDef. His military experience makes him see things very differently from McCain)

  • Remember also that the VP is as consequential or inconsequential as the President chooses to make it.– Fast Eddie, @19

    There are also, however, a couple of sticky spots about the role of the VP, which are *not* left up to the Presidential choice.

    One is the VP’s role as the tie breaker in the Senate. Hopefully, it won’t be necessary but, it’s not a given; even if we get 55-58 Dems, some of them will be spineless and others corrupt on some of the issues. It’s a possibility. And, should in happen… Would you like a Repub to be making that final decision?

    The second “sticky spot” is that the VP becomes replacement P, the moment something happens to the elected P. Remember how Cheney became a president for a day because Bush was off to have his polyps removed? He’d have been the President till January 20th ’09, had Bush’s heart succumbed to anesthesia. Nixon’s VP became P as did Kennedy’s. Having a VP not just with a totally opposite viewpoint (except on a single subject) but from the opposing party as well is just too much risk. Obama isn’t running on some Utopian Unity ticket; he’s running as a Dem.

    So Hagel might be fine for some cabinet position but *definitely not* as a VP.

    I also think you’re wrong about such pairing slicing off 5% from McCain’s support. Among the Indies, maybe. But any such splinter would be more than offset by the Dems who, in all likelihood, would decide that Obama had lost his cotton pickin’ mind and could not be trusted as a Prex.

  • It has been *widly* reported …

    Thus it’s twue! It’s twue! I even found ONE other reference to this startling fact right here

    OMFG

  • I seriously, seriously, seriously doubt that Obama is considering Hagel for VP, regardless of what kind of speculation is going on in the media. Having Hagel campaign with or for him is a good idea. Having Hagel get his back–verbally, not literally–in Iraq is even better, as someone else pointed out above.

    Now what’s all this talk about filtering posts?

  • Eisenhower is to Dan Quayle?

    Don’t diss Dan! I saw him on a CNBC interview today and he was, like, articulate and shit. He even seemed a little hot for Obama. I say give the guy another chance.

  • It’s a firefox extension Maria. Somebody posted the link awhile back to block little bear which is why he’s now using various nicks.

    Can someone post the link again? I’ve had all the Maryness I can take.

  • Maria it was muy weird. I’m too pooped now, but I’ll try to find a transcript tomorrow.

  • The whole thing is idle speculation. We guess the VP pick and always get it wrong. I don’t think the Obama-Hagel thing has any possibility of happening

  • Mary: “When progressives enthuse about Hagel or a Hagel-Obama ticket, I wonder if the whole party has lost its mind.”

    Bwah ha ha ha ha!!! This coming from someone who threatened to vote for McCain if Hillary didn’t win the nom? Oh puh-leaze.
    😀

  • We guess the VP pick and always get it wrong

    I guess the VP pick and frequently get it right!

    –Dodd, a very decent senator and human being whose selection will help tamp down the FISA outrage, which is turning out to be bigger and longer-lasting than Team Obama anticipated

    –Crist, an answer to McCain’s desperate desire to take Florida; Crist just announced his engagement in a laughable attempt to beard himself

    Let’s see if I’m right. If not, my predictions are worth every cent you paid for them.

  • MAria, @35,

    Don’t take Dodd out of the Senate, pretty please. Not only do we need every Dem in the Senate we can lay our hands on but, even more, we need some more of those who are spine-equipped.

  • I’m not voting for taking him out, libra. I just think Obama’s going to, and if he does, we could do worse for VP.

  • Obama going to have a hard time with a V.P., why don’t he pick NANCY P. that should do it, but i think Obama knows he’s stupid, won on the race game, and he wanys to be chief, however he knows nothing, a V.P. would have to give him the answers of what to do, however keep a very low profile, you don’t really have alot would wants that, why should HILLARY, her answers awere better, she should be President, the kool -aid kid follow, he srews up alot, i wouldn’t carry him, BILL CLINTON knows this, why bow down, it’s called back bone..In away, it reminds you of JFK, and brother BOBBT cleaning up his shit, maybe this is why they can’t find a V.P. for the kid…What about his wife, she sounds like the one.

  • Now finally we are getting somewhere, that would be great obama/hagel, a republican going democratic, now HILLARY jump on with McCain, all your votes want to switch over, you and McCain would make a great ticket, and that my dear would be THANKS DNC, hello voters.

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